Songbird

Chapter Six - Cage

Sunlight beamed through the windows of the circular room at the top of Manor Beaumont's highest tower, piercing the gauzy curtains of the four-post bed that occupied the center of the room. Numerous musical instruments were strewn around the perimeter, resting on tabletops and chairs or standing upright, in and out of protective cases, with piles of sheet music scattered around them. There was a dresser and a wardrobe near the bed, as well as a tall mirror and a desk. A folding screen shielded the brass bathtub that crouched against one wall, and a bookshelf stood to one side, custom-made to match the curvature of the walls, its shelves bowing under the weight of the tomes there. Atop it sat a toy, a stuffed animal in the shape of a cat.

There was a knock at the door.

"Wren? Are you awake in there?"

Wren sat up with a yawn, rubbing at bleary eyes. "Only just. Come in."

Her tutor gingerly stepped around the instruments and papers on the floor. "Good morning, my dear. Sleeping in again, are we?"

Wren stretched, stifling another yawn. "Mm...morning, Julia. I suppose so."

A smile tugged at Julia's lips. "Dreaming of your boy?"

"Julia...!"

"I wouldn't tease you if you didn't get so flustered," Julia said. "Now, why don't you bathe while I tidy up?"

She set down her satchel of books and began putting instruments back in their cases and organizing them while Wren retreated behind the screen. Slipping out of her nightgown, she turned the tap and waited, sitting on the edge of the tub. The water level gradually rose, swirling around faster and faster, and Wren yelped as it splashed out of the tub, spray flying up toward the ceiling in the form of birds.

"Ow!" She flinched away as several drops spattered her skin—the water was scalding.

"Wren, are you alright?"

She sighed. "Fine. It was only a flare."

Wren filled the tub again without incident, sinking down into the warm water.

"...Julia?"

"Yes, my dear?"

She swirled the water with a finger. "Do you think I'll ever be able to control it?"

"I know you will."

After her bath, Wren sat with her tutor as they continued yesterday's lesson. In addition to her regular studies, Julia was also teaching her charge meditation and other techniques to clear her mind and focus her thoughts. The two of them were sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed. A book lay between them.

"What do you feel?" Julia asked.

Wren frowned, concentrating. "It's...flickering," she said. "Like a candle."

"Visualize it becoming stronger," Julia said. "Then try to lift the book."

Wren opened her eyes, focusing on the book and the sparks of magic within, imagining it lifting off the floor. But it didn't move an inch.

She sighed. "Nothing..."

"Patience, my dear. It took the ancient mages years to master their powers."

Wren lay on her side, propping herself up on an elbow. "What sorts of things could they do?"

"Anything they could imagine," Julia said. "It seems that there was almost no limit to what they could accomplish with sufficient training."